London’s heatwave in pictures as temperatures skyrocket

Glorious photographs captured people in the capital enjoying the heatwave on Monday.

London sweltered in the heat with meteorologists predicting the capital could see record breaking temperatures of 40C.

The existing UK record, of 38.7C, recorded in Cambridge in 2019, looks certain to fall amid the sweltering heat.

Met Office meteorologist Luke Miall said: “For a good part of eastern Wales, and England and southern Scotland, we’re looking at the 30s if not the high 30s.”

He added London could see temperatures hit 40C.

Children cool off in the Southbank Centre fountain during a heatwave in London (Reuters)

He said: “I’ve been a qualified meteorologist for 10 years, and telling people about 41C in the UK doesn’t seem real.

“It’s crazy how we are talking about these sorts of values, I’ve never seen the models coming up with these values.

“It’s been quite an eye-opener to climate change with all these temperatures in the UK.”

People swim in the elevated Sky Pool, in London (AP)

Temperatures had risen to 37.5C in Cavendish, Suffolk, and 37.4C in Kew Gardens, west London, by 3pm, making it the hottest day of the year, and the mercury topped 37C in a number of other places.

It was so hot in Kew the temperature in its famous greenhouses was cooler than outside.

Palm House supervisor Will Spolestra waters the plants in the Palm House at the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, west London, where temperatures inside the greenhouses are cooler than outside during the heatwave. (PA)

In London, congestion levels fell from 53% on July 11 to 42% on Monday.

There were also reduced services on the Tube, which saw around 18% fewer journeys compared to the same time the week before.

People heeded the advice to avoid travel if possible.

Commuting in 34c heat on the Underground (PA)

Some 1.07 million bus journeys were made up to 10am, a 10% decrease week on week, Transport for London said.

Brian Jordan, director of 999 operations at London Ambulance Service, urged people to only dial 999 in an emergency as he told the BBC a busy day would see 5,500 emergency calls to the service but he was anticipating up to 8,000 on Monday.

Commuters travelling during the heatwave (PA)

Britons are being urged to stay inside during the hottest period of the day between 11am and 4pm.

People covering up from the sun on the Millennium Bridge (REUTERS)

They were urged to wear sun cream, a hat, stay in the shade and keep hydrated with water and there are warnings about swimming in lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

Swimmers at Charlton Lido (PA)

Some Londoners did venture outside with outdoor pools, including Charlton Lido, proving popular.